Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL56501’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘USCAL56501’, characterized by its compact, mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous and freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; small violet-colored flowers with darker violet-colored centers; and good garden and summer performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USCAL56501’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USCAL56501’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Calibrachoa plants with uniform plant habit, freely branching growth habit, attractive small flowers and good summer performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on May 5, 2006 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ06U229, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C420-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Jul. 17, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Jul. 20, 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USCAL56501’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USCAL56501’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous and freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy         appearance.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Small violet-colored flowers with darker violet-colored         centers.     -   5. Good garden and summer performance.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller flowers than         plants of the female parent selection.

The new Calibrachoa plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more mounding than and not         as creeping as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa have smaller leaves than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa ‘Caluplivi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,177. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of ‘Caluplivi’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more mounding than and not         as trailing as plants of ‘Caluplivi’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller flowers than plants         of ‘Caluplivi’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Caluplivi’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Caluplivi’ had light purple-colored         flowers with darker-colored venation.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa ‘Sumcali 01’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,519. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of ‘Sumcali 01’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more mounding than and not         as trailing as plants of ‘Sumcali 01’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Sumcali 01’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Sumcali 01’ had bright violet-colored         flowers with darker-colored venation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USCAL56501’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a close-up of typical flowers and leaves of ‘USCAL56501’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Bonsall, Calif., under commercial practice during the summer and early autumn in an outdoor nursery with day temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 38° C. and night temperatures ranging from 9° C. to 18° C. Plants were pinched one time and were three months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘USCAL56501’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number CJ06U229, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number C420-01, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 22 days             at air temperatures of 29° C. and soil temperatures of 17°             C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 25 days             at air temperatures of 21° C. and soil temperatures of 17°             C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounding and outwardly             spreading plant habit; freely branching habit with about ten             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             lateral branches; pinching enhances branching; vigorous,             dense and bushy growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 10 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 45 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 25 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate, simple; after             flowering, opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 8 mm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to rounded.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent; slightly             rough.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 146C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 146B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 18 to 23 open flowers and flower buds per lateral             branch; flowers face upright and outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa begin flowering about six weeks after             planting; plants flower continuously from spring though the             autumn in Southern California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flower tube diameter, base.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Elongated oblong. Length: About 2 cm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: Slightly more grey than 85C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 1.1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1.2 cm. Petal             shape: Roughly obdeltoid. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin:             Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Pubescent. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface:             Close to 86D. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface: Close             to 84D. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to             N87B; color becoming closer to N87C to N87D with             development; towards the throat, close to 86B; venation,             close to 90C. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 85A; venation, close to N79B. Throat: Close to 9C;             venation, close to N77C. Tube: Close to 145C; venation,             close to N79B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals in a single whorl and fused at the base. Sepal             length: About 1.1 cm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal             texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 60° from stem axis. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: About             five per flower. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament             color: Close to 145D. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length:             About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 4C. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 4B. Pistils: Quantity: One             per flower. Pistil length: About 9 mm. Style length: About             7 mm. Style color: Close to 144B to 144C. Stigma shape:             Oval. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close to             144C. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Calibrachoa. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘USCAL56501’ as illustrated and described. 